Arpine Grigoryan, Arusyak Zhamharyan, Anna Manjikyan, Bagrat Yenokyan, Hakob Topchyan
Background: Cornus mas L. fruits are a rich source of phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, and ascorbic acid and have considerable potential for pharmaceutical and functional food applications. However, the recovery of these bioactive compounds is strongly influenced by the extraction method; conventional extraction techniques remain time-consuming and often require organic solvents. Objective: To compare different extraction methods for Cornus mas fruits and to develop a combined extraction strategy that maximizes bioactive compound recovery while improving technological efficiency and sustainability. Methods:Cornelian cherry fruits were extracted using maceration, fractional maceration, ultrasound-assisted extraction under different solvent and temperature conditions, infusion, and a combined ultrasound-assisted extraction–infusion method. Total phenolic, anthocyanin, and ascorbic acid contents were quantified using validated spectrophotometric and titrimetric methods. The selected aqueous extract was subsequently lyophilized to obtain a dry extract with low residual moisture content. Results: The combined extraction strategy showed the highest overall performance, yielding a total phenolic content of 2220.3 mg GAE/100 g, an ascorbic acid content of 143 mg/100 g, and a high total anthocyanin content of 216.56 mg/100 g. Compared with conventional maceration, the proposed method reduced the extraction time from 10 days to 75 minutes, eliminated the use of organic solvents in the extraction process, and enabled direct lyophilization of the aqueous extract for long-term preservation. Conclusion: The proposed combined extraction strategy provides a practical basis for the production of standardized lyophilized Cornus mas fruit extracts intended for potential pharmaceutical and functional food applications. Novelty and Innovative: A combined ultrasound-assisted extraction–infusion strategy was developed and scientifically substantiated for Cornus mas fruits. The proposed technology integrates efficient extraction and direct lyophilization into a single workflow, providing a practical approach for producing dry extracts with high bioactive compound content. Keywords: Cornus mas L.; cornelian cherry; ultrasound-assisted extraction; phenolic compounds; anthocyanins; ascorbic acid; lyophilization.